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Period: Oct 2, 1492 to
The development of globalism
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Oct 12, 1492
Christopher Columbus reaches the Americas
Christopher Columbus and his crew reach land in the Americas, believing that they have reached India. Soon they find out that they have discovered a new land, and with this begins the flood of exploration, and eventually, a global trade and travel system. -
Sep 15, 1519
The Spanish come to the Americas
The Spanish catch wind of this rich new land filled with gold and fertile soils and seek to claim some for themselves. They send conquistadors to conquer the lands and take them from the natives, thereby eventually setting up their own colonies as well as encouraging others to do the same. -
Dec 2, 1540
The Spanish force colonies to trade only with Spain
To ensure that the colonies economically benefited only Spain, Spain forbade the colonies from trading with anyone but Spain, monopolizing all the goods from their lands in the New World. -
Apr 2, 1542
The English and Dutch become bitter
The English and Dutch were jealous of the riches Spain and Portugal were taking all for themselves, declaring "I should like to see God's will, wherein he divided the Earth between Spain and Portugal." This led to smuggling and clandestine trades between the colonists and these countries. -
Dec 2, 1549
The Spanish force the natives into labor
The conquistadors were granted encomiendas, the right to demand labor from the natives, which began the slave trade; not only were the Native Americans enslaved, but a priest named Bartolome de Las Casas urged the colonists to bring in slaves from Africa. -
Jul 25, 1550
The Atlantic slave trade begins the triangular trade system
With the Atlantic slave trade came the system of triangular trade, a three-legged trifecta of trade routes that enabled true international trade. -
The colonies of different countries begin to fight
With so many countries vying for power in the New World- Spain, France, Portugal, England, and the Netherlands- skirmishes and disagreements turned to full-out war, more specifically between the British and the French, who despised one another. After the Seven Years' War, finally the Treaty of Paris was signed, ensuring Britain dominance in the New World.
